Facts and Figures
Political
Capital
Adelaide
Insignia and Emblems
Floral Emblem
Sturt's Desert Pea (Swainsona Formosa)
Faunal Emblem
Hairy-Nosed or Plains Wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons)
Marine Emblem
Leafy Seadragon (Phycodurus eques)
Gemstone emblem
Timezone
GMT + 9.5 hours
Physical Geography
South Australia is fourth in size to the Australian States and Territories.
Mainland Area
978 810 sq. Km
Island Area
4 672 sq. Km
Total Area
983 482 sq. Km (12.7% of Australia's total)
Length of coastline (including islands)
5,067 Km
Coastal waters area
60 032 sq. Km
Elevation extremes
South Australia is generally a land of vast plains and low relief. More that 80% of the area is less than 300 metres above sea level.
Lowest Point
Lake Eyre -15 m
Climate
Lowest rainfall area: The area of lowest rainfall is in the vicinity of Lake Eyre, where the median annual rainfall is only about 100 mm. This is also Australia's lowest rainfall area.
For more information about the history of meteorology in South Australia see: http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/sa/inside/history/
Borders
South Australia shares a border with all of Australia's mainland States, as well as the Northern Territory. Where the border meets another State, or changes direction, the corner has been officially named, except where it meets the New South Wales - Victorian border. Each of the corners is marked with a concrete pillar.
The following table lists the 'corners' of the South Australian border.
| Point | Name | Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| SA-WA-NT | Surveyor General's Corner | 26° S | 129° E |
| SA-NT-Qld | Poeppel Corner | 26° S | 138° E |
| SA-Qld | Haddon Corner | 26° S | 141° E |
